Department of Child Protection Services; amend provision related to durable legal guardianship as permanency option.

SB 2465 would have replaced "durable legal custody" with "durable legal relative guardianship" as a permanent care option for children in Mississippi's child welfare system. It required courts to find reunification inappropriate, confirm a relative or "fictive kin" (non-relative caregiver) had cared for the child for six months, and consult with children 12+ before approving guardianship. The bill also mandated annual reviews to ensure the arrangement remained in the child's best interest, rather than requiring disposition review hearings. This change directly affected children in foster care, relatives seeking long-term care, and the Department of Child Protection Services. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.